How five teams can get a playoff ticket

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – at least for some NFL franchises.

Three weeks before the start of the 2024 regular season, seven teams have officially secured a spot in the playoffs and nine teams are officially eliminated. That means exactly half of the league – 16 teams – are fighting for their postseason dreams this weekend.

Yes, even the 5-9 New Orleans Saints mathematically have a chance of making it into the NFC playoffs.

Of the 16 teams still alive, five can clinch a playoff spot this weekend – the AFC’s Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers and the NFC’s Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders. Additionally, playoff teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs can clinch a better postseason spot this weekend.

Without further ado, let’s get into which teams will be playing in Week 16.

What’s at stake: NFC East Division title
How to win: Eagles win or draw
Matchup Week 16: at Commanders

When the Washington Commanders visit Northwest Stadium on Sunday, Philadelphia – which has already secured a playoff spot – can clinch its second NFC East title in the last three years with a win or a draw. The Eagles are also still in the process of securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed and are currently tied with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings for the conference’s best record.

What’s at stake: Playoff spot
How to win: Packers win; Falcons loss/draw + Rams loss/draw; Falcons loss/draw + Seahawks loss/draw
Matchup Week 16: against saints

The Packers are the best third-place team in the NFL. At 10-4, Green Bay can clinch the NFC North’s third playoff spot with a win over the New Orleans Saints, a team likely playing without injured quarterback Derek Carr. However, if Green Bay is upset, it can still make the postseason with the help of an old friend, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (plays the Rams), the New York Giants (plays the Atlanta) and the Vikings (plays the Atlanta). -Field cracking sea falcons).

What’s at stake: Playoff spot
How to win: Commanders win + Falcons loss/draw + Rams loss/draw; Commanders win + Falcons loss/tie + Seahawks loss/tie; Commanders win + Falcons loss + Cardinals loss/tie + Rams loss/tie + Seahawks loss/tie (as long as Seattle and Los Angeles don’t have a tie)
Matchup Week 16: vs Eagles

Commanders’ victory scenarios are a treat this week. But essentially, they can’t clinch a playoff spot this weekend without beating division rival Philadelphia at home. From then on, they’ll be watching the scores across the league, and many Commanders fans will be cheering for whoever starts the Giants at center (hello, Tim Boyle?) against Atlanta.

To put it simply, Washington may have to wait another week or two before it can crack the playoff champ. But who knows? Any Sunday.

What’s at stake: AFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs
How to win: Chiefs win + Bills lose/draw; Chiefs draw + Bills loss
Matchup Week 16: against Texans

Taylor Swift’s late-game voodoo magic paved the way for Kansas City to potentially secure the No. 1 seed this weekend. All the Chiefs need is a win over the Houston Texans, combined with MVP candidate Josh Allen, and the Bills losing 11-3 to the New England Patriots.

However, we are not ruling anything out at this point. Never doubt the power of Swifties.

What’s at stake: AFC North Division title
How to win: Steelers win
Matchup Week 16: at Ravens

We love a straightforward decisive scenario. With a win over the Baltimore Ravens (9-5) at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, the Steelers can secure their eighth division title of the Mike Tomlin era. Pittsburgh got the best of Baltimore in Week 11 with a very AFC North-like 18-16 win thanks to six field goals from kicker Chris Boswell.

What’s at stake: Playoff spot
How to win: Ravens win; Dolphins loss/draw + Colts loss/draw
Matchup Week 16: against Steelers

The Ravens don’t have the same luxury as the playoff-bound Steelers as coach John Harbaugh’s team looks to punch its ticket to a third straight postseason appearance this weekend. A win over Pittsburgh would also keep Baltimore in contention for the AFC North Division title. If Baltimore loses, it can still win the postseason if San Francisco beats Miami and Tennessee beats Indianapolis.

What’s at stake: Playoff spot
How to win: Broncos win/draw; Dolphins loss/draw + Bengals loss/draw + Colts loss/draw
Matchup Week 16: at Chargers

Do you believe Bo-believe? Denver can roll into the playoffs with rookie quarterback Bo Nix by defeating the Los Angeles Chargers Football on Thursday evenings at SoFi Stadium, a win that would avenge a 23-16 loss to Jim Harbaugh and Co. in Week 6. However, if the Broncos lose, defeats by all three 6-8 teams in the AFC would also send them to the promised land.

What’s at stake: Playoff spot
How to win: Chargers win + Dolphins loss/draw + Colts loss/draw; Chargers tie + Dolphins loss + Colts loss + Bengals loss/tie
Matchup Week 16: against Broncos

Who has it better than the Chargers in Week 16? Nobody…as long as they beat the Broncos in a primetime matchup. If they can get a win on Thursday night, the Chargers will go into the weekend hoping that the 49ers beat Miami and the Titans beat Indianapolis.